Range base



J. F. LEE

RANGE BASE Dec. 29, 1 931.

Filed June 20. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet J [1 like.

Dec. 29, 193.1.

J. F. LEE

RANGE BASE Filed June 20', 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 e e A F. a

/ mks always Patented Dec. 29, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES F.LEE, OF CLEVELAND, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO HARDWICK STOVE COMPANY, OFCLEVELAND, TENNESSEE, A FIRM COMPOSED OF CHRISTOPHER L. HARDWICK RANGEBASE Application filed June 20,

This invention has reference to range and stove bases and its object isto provide a very simple, inexpensive and efiicient structure whereby aleg member may be connected to a bar member so as to furnish a firmsupport for the oven or other upper structure of a stove or range.Another object of the invention is to provide a structure having thestated characteristic which will permit the bar and leg members to beassembled with their outer surfaces flush and without any projections orother fastening devices in order that an enamel finish may be given theouter surfaces of the members and the members may be handled freelywithout marring said surface. The invention also has for its object theprovision of a coupling which may be readily assembled and which willdispense with the use of nuts or other fastening devices which areliable to work loose and permit separation ofthe parts. These statedobjects, and other objects which will appear incidentally in the courseof the following de scription, are attained in such a device as isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, and the invention resides incertain novel features which will be particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a range base embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 33 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line iti of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the upper end of a leg.

The range base embodying my present invention includes leg members 1which may be given any desired ornamentation and which are generallydisposed in rectangular relation, and also includes side or bar members2 which are disposed at the sides and ends of the base and are connectedat their ends to the legs so as to form a complete supporting structure.As shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 4, each leg member is preferablygiven a right angle formation when viewed in plan so that each branch ofthe leg will 1930. Serial No. 462,635.

form a continuation of meeting bar members when the parts are assembled,but this formation may be varied so that the corner or angle of the legmay be given an arcuate finish when so desired. According to the presentinvention, each bar member has its end portion offset, as shown at 3,whereby to define a recess to receive the meeting end of the top portionof a leg member so that the leg member and the bar member may beassembled with their outer surfaces flush, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.At its inner side each bar member is constructed with a tongue 4extending inwardly at an angle to the plane of the greater length of thebar member and this tongue has its vertical extremity slightly curved,as shown at 5, so that the tongues of adjacent bar members may meet andtend to reinforce each other, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4;, and at thesame time will avoid sharp angular surfaces at the points of contact sothat possible wear will be avoided. Each tongue is also provided with akeyhole slot 6, the circular body portion 7 of which is at its lower endand the lower edge of each tongue is arcuate, as shown at 8, whereby thetongue may be readily caused to clear and rest upon a lug 9 formed onand projecting from the inner side of the meeting cooperating legmember. Above each lug 9 the leg member is provided with a stud 10formed integral with the web of the leg and having an enlarged head 11at its inner extremity, fins 12' being formed on the sides of the stud,as shown most clearly in Fig. 5, whereby to reinforce the stud andpresent a plane surface 13 adjacent the head of the stud against whichthe outer side of the cooperating tongue 4 may bear, as shown in Fig. 4.

In assembling the parts, a bar member is brought into position againstthe side edge of a leg member with the circular body portion 7 of itskeyhole slot alined with the head 11 of the adjacent stud. The tongue isthen pushed bodily over the head and end of the stud until the head hasbeen cleared, whereupon a downward movement is given the tongue and barmember so that the more restricted straight portion of the keyhole slotwill engage the stud behind the head thereon so that the parts will beinterlocked and the bar will be carried by the leg. When the tongue isthus moved downwardly, its lower edge will impinge against the lower lug9 so as to rest thereon, as shown in Fig. 3, and the outer side of thetongue will bear against the end surface 13 of the fins 12 and,consequently, the bar member will be connected with the leg member insuch a manner that a snug joint will be produced and rattling of theparts Will be effectually avoided. The members of the joint may beassembled very quickly and easily without the use of any tools andWithout requiring skilled labor. It will, of course, be understood thatthe tongue may be formed on the leg member and the studs and lugs on thebar member, such reversal of the parts being obvious.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In a range base, the combination of a bar member, and a leg member,one of said members having a rearwardly offset tongue defining a recessto receive the end of the other member, said tongue having a verticallyextending keyhole slot therein with the circular portion of the slot atthe lower end thereof, and said other member having a headed stud on itsinner side to engage in the keyhole slot in the tongue.

2. In a range base, the combination of a bar member, and a leg member,one of said members being provided at its end with a rearwardly offsettongue defining a recess to receive the end of the other member, saidtongue having a vertically extending keyhole slot therethrough with thecircular portion of the slot at the lower end thereof and the othermember having an integral headed stud on its inner side to engage insaid keyhole slot and interlock with the tongue, said other member beingprovided further with a supporting lug below said headed stud upon whichthe lower end of'the tongue may rest and said headed stud havingreinforcing fins on its sides against the ends of which the tongue maybear.

3. In a range base, the combination of a bar member, and a leg member,one of said members being provided with a rearwardly offset tonguedefining a recess to receive the end of the other member, said tonguehaving a vertically extending keyhole slot therein with the circularportion of the slot at the lower end thereof, and said other memberhaving .a headed stud thereon to engage said keyhole slot and having anabutment surface on said stud to bear against said tongue whereby thetongue will be held between said surface and the head of the stud.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES F. LEE.

